**Fantasy Becomes Reality** Group--5/19/2012 (INDEX/ROLE CALL, PAGE 1--ENTRY 1)

[Boomerang4]

0630 AM here. We're in Austria for a ski trip and my first job was to wake up before 0600 and book excursions (yeah!) and we didn't get the brunch (of course, sounds like no one did) and Palo didn't have availability for a group our size on the sea days. Also, as someone noted earlier, no cabanas (though I'm sure we shall survive!).

So, nearly an hour into the process an unable to check in online. Should be available. Anyone have any guesses as to what's up with this?

So all in all a mixed bag. Hope others are having better luck.

 

[donaldsgal]

0630 AM here. We're in Austria for a ski trip and my first job was to wake up before 0600 and book excursions (yeah!) and we didn't get the brunch (of course, sounds like no one did) and Palo didn't have availability for a group our size on the sea days. Also, as someone noted earlier, no cabanas (though I'm sure we shall survive!).

So, nearly an hour into the process an unable to check in online. Should be available. Anyone have any guesses as to what's up with this?

So all in all a mixed bag. Hope others are having better luck.

I think I read that online check-in doesn't start until 3:00 AM. We can book the other stuff at midnight. I read that on the DIS, I think, but I'm not sure if it was in this thread or elsewhere.

 

[Boomerang4]

I think I read that online check-in doesn't start until 3:00 AM. We can book the other stuff at midnight. I read that on the DIS, I think, but I'm not sure if it was in this thread or elsewhere.

Thank's Donaldsgal. I'll check back later. We are doing a B2B and I'm not sure how it will work, whether we have to disembark and re-embark.

Good luck to everyone...

 

[JRandAJsMom]

We did get a Palo dinner, and it was on a night I preferred with a perfect time (6:30 on night 3, which looks to be a casual night according to Passporter?), so we can feed the kids before and make the show after... We got to do the brunch last time, and not the dinner, so it evens out in the end

Now... to make it to 3 am...

 

[JRandAJsMom]

PS-- would love to know who DID get Palo brunch, lol

 

[DizDaddy]

PS-- would love to know who DID get Palo brunch, lol

Not us.....the reservations as a whole were pretty much a joke....

 

[DizDaddy]

I hope you're right but someone else posted they were able to get in but Palo brunch was sold out. So I'm not sure what the problem is. Mine does say You're vacation must be paid in full, which is what is making me think the payment issue hasn't been resolved. Even though Michele from DU assured me I was good to go.

Ours said 'your vacation must be paid in full (etc.)' also, and we have been paid in full for a bit. We were able to proceed at midnight EST (11PM local time), and did book, but our Palo ressies are scattered for our big group, and hopefully we will be able to amend that.

 

[DizDaddy]

We got Palo for dinner on Day 5 (St. Maarten) and Remy for Day 7 (Castaway Cay). We were trying not to miss the shows. Bummer about Palo brunch - I'll keep checking regularly (multiple times a day if needed) to see if one opens up. I preferred that over dinner anyway. On the upside, maybe the All Ears group is doing a group thing for Palo Brunch? One can hope... they have done this for their other cruise gatherings in the past.

Welcome back to the boards! Seems like you've been away for a while, but who am I to point fingers? I hear people in glass houses (such as myself) should not cast stones!

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Not us.....the reservations as a whole were pretty much a joke....

Agreed. Especially this 3 am thing. I would say that maybe it's so they don't overload their server, but everyone is on here anyway, lol

All I can think is that the reservation lines that first day are going to be a madhouse

 

[JRandAJsMom]

I just logged in to book a brunch too. Thank goodness it's only 4:00pm here. I'm really disappointed the brunches are all sold out. Does anyone know if there is a chance to book on board?

I booked one onboard on our last cruise... I think onboard sign ups are going to be a zoo!!!

Almost 3 am here... Hoping there's a good boarding time left so this whole all-nighter thing isn't a bust. I'm getting too old for this, lol

 

[Boomerang4]

Check-in is open....

 

[ksucats]

Check-in is open....

Got an 11:00 time. Very happy with that. Now hopefully a Palo brunch opens up.

 

[Donald Applecore]

Snagged an 11-11:30am port arrival time
Goodnight everybody!!

 

[JRandAJsMom]

All checked in!

Quick question. I ask this EVERY time I cruise just to see, but kids under 16 can present a birth certificate rather than a passport, right? With as much traveling as we do, I plan to get the boys passports, but just in case... I put in that we would have other identification for them b/c they don't have them as of yet...

Just checking!

 

[dlf246]

Got an 11:00 time. Very happy with that. Now hopefully a Palo brunch opens up.

Same with us and probably all of the silver castaway members in our Meet group!!! After spending years reading the Disboards, I am going to zoom in on future trip reports on how often the "silvers" could get Palo brunch on request on embarkation. I'm even ok with a waiting list, so long as likely... !

 

[Mum from oz]

Completed my online check in too. See you all between 11:00-11:30am! It seems so real now. Fingers crossed for Palo brunches for all.

 

[donaldsgal]

Welcome back to the boards! Seems like you've been away for a while, but who am I to point fingers? I hear people in glass houses (such as myself) should not cast stones!

Thanks, Tony. Yes, it's been a bit of a madhouse. I'm working about 55-60 hours a week, I've taken on a private practice client, and I'm taking a 3 hour pottery class on the weekends for some self-care! It's good stuff, but it's stuff that keeps me away from leisure Disney-ing. Having to be up in the middle of the night has helped me figure out our FE gifts, though, so hopefully our trip to Michael's tomorrow will reveal we can definitively say we're in. I've missed being here, and you're so thoughtful to notice!

Got an 11:00 time. Very happy with that. Now hopefully a Palo brunch opens up.

Snagged an 11-11:30am port arrival time
Goodnight everybody!!

All checked in!

Quick question. I ask this EVERY time I cruise just to see, but kids under 16 can present a birth certificate rather than a passport, right? With as much traveling as we do, I plan to get the boys passports, but just in case... I put in that we would have other identification for them b/c they don't have them as of yet...

Just checking!

Completed my online check in too. See you all between 11:00-11:30am! It seems so real now. Fingers crossed for Palo brunches for all.

11:00-11:30 here, too! We can't show up earlier, right? We're having a car transfer from the hotel, and I don't want to take that earlier than we'll be let in. However, if they let you in early, I wanna be there!

And my TA said children don't need passports; they are only needed if a flight back to the US from another country will be necessary, which would be an emergency situation. I guess we're risking it; I don't know if my sister is planning to get the passport before the trip. We're also daring to travel without trip insurance, though, so we're rebels all around.

Now, it's off to bed. I feel asleep on the coach at 2:30 and just woke up at 4:45 AM, so it'll be a rough wake-up call tomorrow. G'night!

 

[kimistry6]

Got an 11:00 time. Very happy with that. Now hopefully a Palo brunch opens up.

Snagged an 11-11:30am port arrival time
Goodnight everybody!!

Completed my online check in too. See you all between 11:00-11:30am! It seems so real now. Fingers crossed for Palo brunches for all.

(SNIP) 11:00-11:30 here, too! We can't show up earlier, right? We're having a car transfer from the hotel, and I don't want to take that earlier than we'll be let in. However, if they let you in early, I wanna be there!

And my TA said children don't need passports; they are only needed if a flight back to the US from another country will be necessary, which would be an emergency situation. I guess we're risking it; I don't know if my sister is planning to get the passport before the trip. We're also daring to travel without trip insurance, though, so we're rebels all around.

Now, it's off to bed. I feel asleep on the coach at 2:30 and just woke up at 4:45 AM, so it'll be a rough wake-up call tomorrow. G'night!

We will see you all at 11:00! I went to bed after booking at 12 and got up at 3 to snag the 11:00-11:30 port arrival time.

We got passport cards for all of us, even though you only need a certified birth certificate. We felt it would be easier to keep up with the cards and it was still cheaper than a real passport. However, now we do regret not getting the passport because we want to go on an Alaskan cruise and fly into Vancouver instead of driving across the border. We did get insurance, we are just too chicken to risk it.

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Yay! We'll see everyone at 11 as well! We should wear something that marks us so we can spot each other

But before I drift into cruise daydreams I better get to laundry so my kids have something to wear at all... Mickey, take me away!

 

[texfinn]

We got 11 too! I was surprised to still find it available this morning when I checked in (about 8:15 CST). Got Palo dinner but no brunch. Tea was showing up and disappearing but could never get there in time. I got my excursions on CC and St Thomas and booked an 11am stone massage on Thursday. We'll keep trying with the brunch and tea.

I still need to finalize plans after the cruise. I think we are staying on property now but need to book. It is a lot more money but..... I couldn't resist. Justifying with the cheaper transportation and by assuming we will skip parks one day to play in the pool. Park tickets alone help offset the cost

It is getting closer!!!!

Happy Sunday all,
Mati